Light tube system for distributing sunlight or artificial light singly or in combination

Abstract

Hybrid lighting systems use light distributor tubes to distribute artificial light and natural sunlight through the same distributor tubes. Devices for gathering uncollimated light from conventional sources (such as electrically energized arcs or filaments housed in evacuated or gas filled glass envelopes) and directing the light into the ends of tubes designed to distribute such light. Devices for gathering and concentrating inherently collimated sunlight to be fed into the same light distributing tubes used by the artificial light. One preferred embodiment comprises a light gathering and concentrating system in the form of a pair of opposed parabolic reflectors, one which is preferably large, e.g. having a diameter of five feet, and the other much smaller, e.g. the size of the much smaller distribution tubes. This light gathering system is connected to the light distribution tubes through a pair 90° elbows which are rotatable in the X and Y axis in order to track the location of the sun in the sky. The two parabolic reflectors are positioned to share a common focal point so that the larger reflector will direct the sunlight through the focal point of the smaller reflector, which will, reflect the light as concentrated, collimated light. A central aperture in the larger reflector passes the concentrated beam on its way to the distribution tubes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFossil fuel is a finite resource, the burning of which has incipient environmental consequences. An increase in the use of alternative energy sources is desirable, as is better efficiency in the use of all energy. Photovoltaic generation of electricity is a broad, high tech energy source but still has limitations with respect to scale and storage.Solar interior illumination is a relatively low tech alternative source, and offers huge saving in terms of fossil fuel. Except for window panes and sky lights, however, interior solar lighting has been clumsy, costly and difficult because both the intensity and the angles of sunlight vary so widely with time of day, with the seasons, and with the weather. Meanwhile, lighting systems which use a lot of electricity while the sun shines are almost universal.One improvement in the use and distribution of light has come with the inventions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,489 owned by the Ply-Light Corporation of Sain...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Another preferred embodiment described in further detail below comprises two sets of larger-smaller parabolic reflectors arranged to minimize the losses inherently caused by the position of the smaller parabolic reflector in the path of the sun striking the larger parabolic reflector.

According to another aspect of the present invention, one or more of the several reflectors in the system can be made to separate the visible spectrum of the light from the invisible (including infra red). The visible light can be directed into the light distribution system while the invisible light can be filtered to eliminate it. The visible light will be “cool”, significantly lowering the demand for air conditioning. Another advantage of the present systems is that they allow the artificial light sources to be centralized where their excess heat can be vented to the outdoors in warm weather and into the building in cold weather.

Other aspects of the present invention comprise improved sunlight collimators and concentrators, improved reflectors for both natural and artificial light, and improved connectors for connecting artificial light with distributor tubes.

Problems solved by technology

Fossil fuel is a finite resource, the burning of which has incipient environmental consequences.

Photovoltaic generation of electricity is a broad, high tech energy source but still has limitations with respect to scale and storage.

Except for window panes and sky lights, however, interior solar lighting has been clumsy, costly and difficult because both the intensity and the angles of sunlight vary so widely with time of day, with the seasons, and with the weather.

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